Friday, 19 August 2022….Customs and Border Control Service (CBC) wishes to advise customers in the Sister Islands (Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) that they are implementing a new phased process for all courier import and export services. This new process will be introduced in a THREE (3) PHASED approach:

• PHASE 1: DHL
• PHASE 2: FedEx
• PHASE 3:Sprint and UPS

CBC will continue to expand their online cargo import systems on the Sister islands into 2023, which will include sea and air imports and exports.

“The enhancements and changes to business processes and the use of technology will help to improve the customer experience. In order to simplify the process for our customers CBC has created a step-by-step list,” said Deputy Director, Mr. Kevin Walton. 

PHASE 1: DHL SISTER ISLANDS’ IMPORTERS

As part of Phase 1, all persons importing items into the Cayman Islands through DHL Courier Service are required to register on the Customs Online System (COLS). To avoid delays when using DHL Courier Service, customers are required to register with CBC and appoint an Agent(s) and provide the necessary documentation for their imports.    

STEP 1: REGISTRATION

All customers will have to create a CIG e-service account.

• Go to COLS website https://online.gov.ky/cols/faces/home

• Click “Pre-Register here”. 
• Register as an Individual or Company/Business.  
• Customers should note that the registration process normally takes up to 48 hours to complete; registration must be complete before goods arrive.

If already registered, there is no need to complete the above process.

STEP 2: APPOINTING AN AGENT

• Once logged into COLS click “Declarations.
• In the left menu options click “Agent Authorization”.
• Select the Agent of choice in the “Available Agents” box, then click the arrow button pointing to the right to move the Agent to the “Authorized Agent” box.
• Click “Submit” to submit the application to the Agent. Users will receive a notification that “Your Agent Authorization has been saved successfully”.

A Trader Name and Trader Identification Number “TIN” will populate an Agent List allowing an Agent to select an order to clear goods on the user’s behalf.

STEP 3:   DESELECT AN AGENT PREVIOUSLY APPOINTED:

• Select the Agent of interest in the “Authorized Agents” box, then click the arrow button pointing to the left to move the Agent to the “Available Agent” box.
• Click “Submit”, and a “Your Agent Authorization has been saved successfully” notification will be received.

The Deselected Agent will no longer see the “Trader Name” and “TIN”.

HOW DO AGENTS KNOW THAT A TRADER HAS AUTHORIZED THEM AS THEIR AGENT?

• Once logged into COLS click “Declarations.
• In the left menu options click “Agent Authorization”.
• A field will appear showing all traders that have selected the user to be their Agent.

            If the Trader Name and TIN do not appear in the list, this means that the trader has not selected that Agent.

REMINDERS:

1. Invoicing

Forty percent of imports reach the Cayman Islands without an adequate invoice. This is the leading cause of delays in receiving goods.

To help avoid delays CBC requires a Supplier/Sale Invoice:

• Supplier’s Commercial Invoices require proof of payment.
• Courier system generated Commercial Invoices are not acceptable.

2. When submitting for processing customers are reminded to:

• Gather documents and share them with the agent as soon as goods are shipped.
• Supply the Courier with a PDF of the Supplier/Sale Invoice(s). Handwritten invoices are normally not accepted by CBC.
• If additional documentation is required, e.g. approval from the Department of Agriculture, this should be obtained prior to the shipment arriving.
• If in doubt whether additional information is required, ask CBC or the Courier agent.
• Under no circumstances, omit or misrepresent the value of goods (assumes that customer knows the value of a given item).
• The Courier is not responsible for proper documentation; this is the responsibility of the customer. 

For more information and assistance on the new COLS system import customers are encouraged to contact the Customer Support Centre at 345-649-4579 or email [email protected].  For general in-person assistance customers are also encouraged to visit the CBC Sister Islands Administration office within the District Administration Building in Stake Bay.